Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have unreservedly endorsed former Senate President Anyim Pius as he seeks to emerge the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 elections.
The endorsement took place at an iIftar meeting hosted by Anyim on Friday in Abuja to break fast with members of the community.
Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset to break fast during Ramadan.
Endorsing Anyim, the national chairman of the PWDs, Abdullahi Akilu from Kaduna State, noted that Anyim was the first aspirant to host them.
He said: “Come 2023, we will give you our block vote. We are not only going to deliver you on the day of the PDP primaries, we will deliver you at the general election and ensure that you become Nigeria’s president.
“Nigeria needs you at this critical moment to govern this country. We are happy that someone of your calibre is sitting with us tonight, eating with us and laughing with us. We will not forget and we will ensure that our votes speak for us loud and clear on Election Day.”
In response, a visibly elated Anyim who personally served food to most of the 38 PWDs who attended the meeting assured them that if he is elected president in the 2023 elections, he will make their welfare a priority.
Addressing the delegates from the 36 states of the federation, Anyim, who said ordinarily, he would hold such a meeting privately, said, however, the circumstance of today demands otherwise.
“Now that I am running for president, permit me to do this in public. This night is very significant for me,” he said.
The former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) assured that if elected president in the 2023 elections, he will maximise the welfare and wellbeing of persons with disabilities.
“I believe that until the least of us is recognised, the rest of us will not be fulfilled and if elected president next year, I will make sure that everyone with disability that has competence will be employed and appointed into public office. When I become president, I will appoint a PWD as an adviser,” Anyim assured.
